Emergency department patients across the United States don’t see how Hitachi Consulting and Schumacher Group are using Business Intelligence (BI) to improve the care they receive. What they do experience is a high level of support by doctors and nurses who have the right information in their hands at the right time for providing better patient care.

In late 2007, Hitachi Consulting, the IT services company of Hitachi, Ltd., began working with Schumacher Group (www.schumachergroup.com) headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, to help hospitals tackle a set of difficult problems associated with running their emergency medicine operations. Schumacher Group recognized the critical need for better utilization of data collected throughout the treatment process with a goal of improving emergency care across the U.S.

"Health care is a much more complicated business to be in than it was, say, twenty years ago. In fact, providing emergency care has become increasingly difficult, thus prompting many institutions to turn to a company like Schumacher Group to help them do a better job of caring for so many more people, who are opting for emergency services instead of visiting their regular providers," said William “Kip” Schumacher, M.D., founder and CEO of Schumacher Group.

Opelousas General Health System (www.opelousasgeneral.com) in Opelousas, Louisiana, a client of Schumacher Group, is also featured in the film representing an example of the changes and new direction in emergency care.

"We are proud to partner with a group that shares our mission the way Schumacher Group does. They are committed to providing excellent patient care and recognize the extraordinary impact technology can have - it is a wonderful collaborative partnership," said Michelle Perkins, director of marketing, Opelousas General Health System.

According to Schumacher, "Hitachi Consulting provided the answers we were looking for coupled with a strategic approach that supported the company’s business model, along with tools to help share critical information with various stakeholders committed to patient care and our diverse network of hospitals across the U.S., including Opelousas General Health System."

"What we’re accomplishing with Hitachi Consulting is in a way revolutionizing both how and what information is shared. We’re establishing best practices and overall strengthening bonds across the entire network of people and organizations who touch the patient, from the attendant positioned at bedside to the clerk issuing a billing statement, to arrival of that bill at the mailbox," noted Schumacher.

"Although Schumacher Group is not unlike many companies that struggle to make good use of the data they collect, our work together has the added, personal benefit of helping doctors and nurses identify trends in illness, or behaviors, how demographics play a role and how so many pieces of the information puzzle are coming together to make a real difference in people’s lives, people who in some cases are going through life-threatening situations," said Patrick Bolin, Hitachi Consulting director of specialized services.

"The only way we’re really going to change healthcare is if we help healthcare become better from the inside out, and Schumacher Group is intent on doing just that, and we’re pleased to be a part of it," said Bolin.

According to Bolin, the ongoing Advanced Business Planning (ABP) project to implement strategic business planning processes, BI solutions and technology interfaces, including the Microsoft BI platform, at Schumacher Group’s installations in 17 states is expected to continue into 2009.

"Our goal long term is for this project and its results to serve as an ABP learning model for how health care providers, and many other types of companies, can use data, strategic thinking and cutting-edge solutions to improve the lives of patients and their families," noted Bolin.

About Hitachi America, Ltd.
Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit www.hitachi.us.

About Hitachi Consulting Corporation
As Hitachi, Ltd.'s global consulting company, with operations in the United States, Europe and Asia, Hitachi Consulting is a recognized leader in delivering proven business and IT strategies and solutions to Global 2000 companies across many industries. With a balanced view of strategy, people, process and technology, we work with companies to understand their unique business needs, and to develop and implement practical business strategies and technology solutions. From business strategy development through application deployment, our consultants are committed to helping clients quickly realize measurable business value and achieve sustainable ROI.

Hitachi Consulting's client base includes 25 percent of the Global 100 as well as many leading mid-market companies. We offer a client-focused, collaborative approach and transfer knowledge throughout each engagement. For more information, call 1.877.664.0010 or visit www.hitachiconsulting.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 390,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2007 (ended March 31, 2008) consolidated revenues totaled 11,226 billion yen ($112.2 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at www.hitachi.com.